CC MEMO -- Show Boats

Remember how the display of Team New Zealand's ACC yacht at the Auckland Airport grabbed your attention even if you were nearly brain-dead after flying 30 hours from Europe?

A couple years back BMW ORACLE put their 2000-era trial horse USA-61 out to pasture as a "show boat." It is currently on display in the Munich Airport. USA-61 has been such a success that their USA-49 is now being converted into a show boat for use in the USA market.

Since 2004 ACM has been displaying GBR-44 as a show boat at all the Acts venues. It has been a popular feature for the general public in the America's Cup Park, including at Malmö.

'92 Cup winner Bill Koch has lent his successful defender America³ and the '92 challenger Il Moro di Venezia IV (which Bill also owns) to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts for display in front of the Museum through 13 November.

Now Luna Rossa's website reports that earlier this week the hull of Luna Rossa ITA 45, the boat that won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000, arrived in Rome for an exhibition to the public. It will be promintently featured during Rome's Notte Bianca (tonight) at Piazza del Popolo, and will remain there on display through 25 September.

Yesterday Bloomberg.com ran a good article on Notte Bianca. Love this quote:

"It's a good idea and an event that helps increase people's interest in the city and Rome's image,'' said Elio Mussardo, 36, who's lived near Rome's Piazza Venezia for most of his life. "I'm really interested in seeing [Prada Holding NV's racing yacht] the Luna Rossa."

Good show.


Fish-eye view of Luna Rossa arriving at the Piazza del Popolo earlier this week.

P.S. Perhaps ACM should allow/encourage all teams to display Show Boats in and around the AC venues. Imagine over the next year a dozen or so Show Boats set up in major airports around Europe, and then on display in main plazas around Valencia in 2007.